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Policy Resources

AFC works to change education policy so that the public school system serves all children effectively. We publish policy reports and data analyses, testify at the City and State levels, speak out in the press to bring attention to the challenges facing the students and families we serve, and join with other advocates, parents, youth, and educators to call for change.

Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration
  • Policy Agenda

    • Leading the Way for NYC Schools: Recommendations for the Next Administration

    Based on our experience helping thousands of NYC families each year, we urge the next Mayor to take on big challenges with bold ideas and stand firm in the face of threats to students’ civil rights.
    Closeup of student holding a pencil in class

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    AFC Testifies on the Draft School Discipline Code for 2013-14
    Tweed Courthouse, the headquarters of the Department of Education.
  • Testimony & Public Comment
    • AFC Testifies on the Draft School Discipline Code for 2013-14

    AFC testified at the Discipline Code hearing, which offers the opportunity for students, parents, teachers, and advocates to offer input into the draft of the discipline code which will go into effect during the 2013-2014 school year. AFC called for the discipline code to include meaningful information regarding behavioral supports for students with disabilities. Though students with disabilities make up 12% of the NYC public school population, they receive almost 1/3 of all suspensions.

    Jun 6, 2013

    Keeping Kids In School and Out of Court: Report and Recommendations
  • Policy Report
    • Keeping Kids In School and Out of Court: Report and Recommendations

    May 2013 report and recommendations from the New York City School-Justice Partnership Task Force. Under the stewardship of former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, the task force brought together a unique and knowledgeable group of key players from the education and justice communities who had not previously had the chance to collaborate. The report outlines a plan of action for the next mayor to reduce suspensions and school-based summonses and arrests.

    May 30, 2013

    Essential Voices: Including Student and Parent Input in Teacher Evaluation
    A student in the front row of a classroom raises their hand.
  • Policy Report
    • Essential Voices: Including Student and Parent Input in Teacher Evaluation

    This policy paper describes the need for student and parent input in teacher evaluation in New York City, summarizes research demonstrating the validity and reliability of such measures, describes efforts other states and districts are undertaking to incorporate student and/or parent feedback into their own teacher evaluation systems, and provides recommendations to the DOE.

    Jun 18, 2012

    Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
    Close-up of an open book. (Photo by Bilakis via Pexels)
  • Law Review Article
    • Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care

    This article by AFC Supervising Attorney Erika Palmer and Cara Chambers, Supervising Attorney for the Legal Aid Society’s Education Advocacy Project, examines the impact of changing schools on students in foster care, discusses current laws, and describes strategies from around the country to address school mobility. It was first presented at the Practicing Law Institute’s 10th Annual School Law Institute and was published in Volume 26 of the Touro Law Review.

    Nov 29, 2011

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    Description

    Responding to Proposed Changes to the U.S. Department of Education

    This proposed restructuring violates federal law and is the latest step in an ongoing effort to dismantle the Department of Education. Learn more about what this means.

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